Synthesizer DX7

In 1983, the digital synthesizer started to emerge and drove out its analog predecessors. The DX7 in particular became wildly popular and a worldwide success with 160,000 units sold. Its sounds were ubiquitous in the pop music of the 80s, and its electronic keyboards, bells, bass guitars and percussion were particularly unique. Depeche Mode used them, for instance, in "People are People". The sound synthesis is created by "operators," digital vibrators that are based on frequency modulation. Artists who used the DX7 included Depeche Mode, Brian Eno, Level 42, Whitney Houston, Genesis, A-ha in "Hunting High and Low", and Michael Jackson in "Bad".